Gymnasts look to put together complete meet
The Utah State University gymnastics team will take on Arizona State University and Southern Utah University at 7 p.m. Friday in the Spectrum.
Head Coach Ray Corn said his goal for the meet is to not count any falls.
“After nine outings, we have yet to put a clean meet together,” he said. “The true potential of this team has not been witnessed home or away. I hope to see it against Arizona State and Southern Utah.”
The last time the Aggies met the Sundevils, ASU defeated USU 193.350-191.700 in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State (6-5-1) is ranked No. 17 this week.
Friday will be the first meeting of the (3-10) Aggies and the (2-8) Thunderbirds this season. SUU posted a season-high team score of 193.975 last weekend at home.
Corn said every time he walks out on the floor, he thinks the Aggies can win, which is his attitude toward Friday’s meet. He said he is concentrating on how the Aggies do, and not worrying about the other teams.
“I’m not concerned about the other teams,” Corn said. “I’m concerned about my team only.”
Corn said the most important thing the team can do is put together a clean meet.
“They’ve trained so hard and been so competitive, but they haven’t been able to put a clean meet together,” he said. “It’s important to get a successful outing out of us.”
The Aggies may see some changes of individuals in events, Corn said. He said he may put freshman Nalani Chung on the uneven bars and Katie Rutherford, Jessica Rands and perhaps Sarah Colson on the floor routine.
Corn said for the Aggies to do well, it is important for the all-arounders to be strong at the meet.
“We’ve been led all year by Jessenia Abrego and the all-arounders,” he said. “We need for them to have a masterful meet for us to be successful.”
The Aggies are as healthy as they’ve been all year long, Corn said. The exception is junior Kristen Bloom, who has a sore knee and ankle. Corn said she’ll probably be out the rest of the season.
Corn said he is concentrating on the bars and the beam in the last couple of weeks before the conference meet. He said there may be added difficulty on the floor exercise, as well.
The Western Gymnastics Conference Championship will be March 22, and Corn said the Aggies still have a chance to compete strongly there.
“I hope people don’t count us out,” he said.